Regular readers will know that Asphalt & Rubber is littered with Star Wars references — we are a bit dorky like that. Speaking for myself, I am an equal opportunity sci-fi nerd, giving healthy viewing times to the Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Babylon 5 franchises, just to name a few (David for some reason enjoys Farscape…no one is perfect).
If you read enough of our articles, a Boba Fett, Deathstar, or Bothan Spy reference is more than likely to crop up (dear I say, they are even expected??!) — so for the kids who were cool in high school: deal with it.
With that disclaimer being said, we bring to you the most awesome thing you will see this Monday: Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi photoshopped into the iconic movie frame of Yoda mentoring Luke Skywalker in the swampy forests of Dagobah. Thanks for the tip Gigi!
This is where Luke learned to control his emotions, deal with Vader being his father, and transformed from lightsaber apprentice to Jedi master. “Control, control, you must learn control!” Yoda implored to young Skywalker. We imagine MotoGP’s Race Direction has likely said the same to Marquez many times in the past few years, as the Repsol rider showed amazing talent coupled to less-than-amazing judgment on the track.
Monterey, California may very well prove to be Marc Marquez’s Dagobah though, as the young Spaniard is now halfway through the 2013 MotoGP season, and currently leads the Championship by 16 points. Showing an amazing talent and aptitude on a race bike, what is really impressing pundits lately is the rate at which Marquez learns from his mistakes.
This is not the Moto2 rider from a year ago that we saw crashing every other race; but instead a two-wheeled Jedi master, who on any given Sunday (or Saturday, if we are racing in Assen) is able to compete and best the giants of this sport. He is the droid we are looking for.
As Luke did on Endor, Marquez still has to shake his reputation and claim his position, as many were quick to point the finger at the Spaniard’s safety record during his now infamous pass on Valentino Rossi in the Laguna Seca Corkscrew.
As David carefully and accurately analyzed though, Marquez was not at fault for the pass, as Rossi ran the entry wide. If anything, the Honda-man avoided what could have been an unfortunate racing collision. For those still not swayed, look at it this way…at least he didn’t try to score with his sister. Awkward.
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